Capsule filling machine



April-25, 1933. E, rrc 1,905,279

CAPSULE FILLING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ele/"f L. Fifcfp INVENTOR Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES ELBERT L. FITCH, OF NEWBURGH, NEW YORK CAPSULE mun re MACHINE Application filed July 3,

This invention relates to capsule filling machines and has for the primary object, the provision of a device of the above stated character whereby a number of capsules may be easily and quickly filled without the operators hands coming in contact with either the capsules or the ingredients for any appreciable length of time to prevent the moisture of the hands. from affecting the ingredients or the capsules, thus providing an eflicient means for carrying out the above operation in a sanitary manner.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means whereby the device may be easily and quickly adjusted for filling capsules of different sizes and further capable of adjustment for partially exposing the capsules after being filled to permit the caps thereof to be easily and quickly aplied. p With these and other objects in View, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating a capsule filling machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a cover plate.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral "1 indicates a support including side supporting walls 2 connected by an integral top wall 3 and said side walls have their free edges bent angularly to form feet or rests at. Mounted upon the top wall 3 is a plate 5 constructed from glass or any other suitable material to provide a working surface and the latter is retained upon the 1931. Serial no. 548,638. r

wall 3 byend flanges 6 formed upon the ends ofthetop wall 3. p i '1 Inclined tracks 7 are secured to the side walls 2 and are of angle iron shape in cross section to slidably support a carriage 8. The tracks? are provided with elongated slots}? to receive guides 10 on the carriage 8 'and also screw threaded studs 11 of the carriage I and which have threaded thereon nuts 12 5 adapted to have binding engagement with' the tracks for holding the carriage in any of its adjusted positions relative to "the support 1. 1 q j The carriage 8' includes a top wall "13 formed integral with said walls 14 engaging over the side walls 2 with their free edges in engagement with thetracks7; The free edges of the walls 14 are disposed on-anincline as clearly shown in'Figure 2 so that by adjusting the carriage along the 'tracks17, the top wall 13 may be caused to move toward and from the cover plate 5. Thetop wall 13 of the carriage is provided with a substantially rectangular shaped opening 15 closed by a capsule supporting plate 16' which rests upon'thetop wall 13 and 'is' retained thereon by end; flanges 17 formed 1 on the carriage. The capsulesupporting plate 16 is provided withrows of openings 18 disposed over the opening 15 in the top wall and are adapted to receive capsules as shown in Figures 3 and 4 with the ends of said capsules engaging the plate 5 and with their open ends disposed slightly belowthesurface of the plate 16 so that medicine or other ingredients after being mixed may be placed on the plate 16 and moved over the upper ends of the capsules so that the ingreu clients will gravitate into said capsules andfill the latter. After the capsuleshave been filled, the-carriage 8 may be adjusted'relative to the supportto cause the capsules to be moved partially outwardly of the openings of the plate 16 whereby their caps may be easily and quickly applied,

To accommodate capsules of different sizes it is also necessary to adjust the carriage relative to the support 1 so that the capsules of different lengths may be supported prop- 9 erly for receiving the ingredients prior to being capped.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will 5 be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit-and scope of my invention, asv

claimed. Having thus described my invention, what Iclaimis: A

1. A capsule filling machine comprising a horizontal top, side supporting walls for the top, a capsule supporting plate disposed over the top and provided with openings to receive capsules resting on the top, side portions on the plate and having inclined lower edges, and inclined tracks on the supporting walls and engaged by the lower edges of the side portions to move the plate towards and from the top by sliding the plate relative to said top. r

- 2. A capsule'filling machine comprising a horizontal top, side supporting walls 'for the top, a capsule supporting plate disposed over the top and having openings to receive capsules engaging the top, side portions on the plate and having inclined lower edges,

inclined slotted tracks on the supporting walls and engaged by the lower edges of the side portions to move the plate towards and from the top by sliding the plate relative to'said top, threaded pins on the side portions'and extending through the slots of the 1 tracks, and nuts threaded to said pins and bearing against the tracks to secure theplate in various adjusted positions relative to the top.

3. A capsule filling machine comprising a horizontal top, side supporting walls-for the top, a capsule supporting. plate disposed over the top and having openings to receive capsules engaging the top, side portions on the plate and having inclined lower edges,

inclined slotted tracks on the supporting walls and engaged by the lower edges of the side portions to move the plate towards and from the top by sliding the plate relative to said top, threaded pins on the side portions and extending through the slots of the tracks, nuts threaded to said pins and bearing against the tracks to secure the plate in various adjusted positions relative to the top, and tongues on theside portions and slidably engagingtheupper walls of the slots of the tracks.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ELBERT L. FITCH. 

